September 16, 2014
by Allen Christenson

The fall season has finally arrived! The 60 degree temperature and light drizzle on the morning of September 13 was just too much for me to resist. The moderate north breeze also got me excited. A one hour excursion netted seven bass.

You see, this is exactly the kind of weather that always enhances the bass fishing on Lake Travis. Black bass instinctively move near shorelines to feast on sunfish, shad, shore minnows, and crawfish.

Low light penetration coupled with cooling water and wind current creates ideal feeding conditions. An angler's BPH(bites per hour) increases dramatically as we near October.

We seldom have to resort to soft plastic finesse tactics in the fall unless an unwelcome hot spell with bright sun and no wind descends on us.

Surface lures, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and swimbaits usually produce steady action all day long when bass are in the chase mode. Fast retrieves normally generate more savage reflex strikes than a slow cadence.

This fall I will be experimenting with the Hydrowave electronic feeding stimulator. For over two years I've been reading about this device that is now endorsed by the vast majority of national bass tournament pros.

Sportsmen have long used duck calls, turkey calls, and rattling antlers for attracting deer. Now we have an electronic fish call that can often make a difference in fishing success.

An underwater speaker transmits authentic sounds of panicky shad schools trying to flee voracious bass. Nearby bass get aroused and stalk the source of this commotion, which is your boat.

Sounds simple, but there are many subtle variations in duration and intensity to master. It will be fun learning this technique that should increase my client's fishing success.

For updates or a guided excursion call 512-261-3644 or email
achristenson1@austin.rr.com.

September 6, 2014

experimenting with new lures and techniques has always been a passion of mine. The Lake Travis bass population also seems to enjoy playing with new toys.

The newest bass fishing from Japan is called "spybaiting." I have been using a Duo Realis Spinbait 80 for a couple of months with good results.

This small finesse lure excels whenever bass are suspended and feeding on shad or glass minnows. Measuring just over three inches and weighing just under a half ounce, this unique lure casts extremely well on light line and a spinning rod.

Tiny propellers on each end impart an amazing action on a slow retrieve. The lure sinks slowly and can be counted down to whatever depth the fish are holding.

A big variety of other more conventional lures is producing good morning action for my recent clients. Surface lures like the Pop R, Zell Pop, and Chug Bug have been igniting explosive strikes off points and boat docks.

This action begins at dawn and continues for a couple of hours. A square billed crankbait like the Bandit 100 has come on strong also. Chartreuse shad has been our best color.

I am eagerly awaiting the first strong cold front that normally hits in late September. A brisk north wind and cooler nights will lower the water temperature several degrees and really get the bass into chase mode.

The best fall fishing kicks in at the 75 degree mark. Right now we are at 84 degrees.

Cooler weather will also activate white bass, stripers, and crappie into actively pursuing baitfish. A good sonar will reveal schools of these fish in the 25-35 foot zone. White or silver jigging spoons usually produce best in this deep water.

For updates or a guided excursion, emailachristenson1@austin.rr.com or call 512-261-3644.

August 25, 2014
by Allen Christenson

The fish are not the only ones hooked. A big reason for my fascination with fishing is that it is a sport nobody ever fully masters.

The myriad variables from day to day present an ever changing puzzle to solve. The activity level and mood of the bass is out of our control and must be determined as quickly as possible.

Two primary factors are depth and speed control. Faster retrieves are often used for shallow fish, while deep fish usually dictate a very slow presentation.

Spring and fall always produce the very best bass fishing on Lake Travis, like most bodies of water in Texas. Black bass remain shallow all day long in the cool water months.

The arrival of September always cheers me up. Bass instinctively sense the shorter daylight hours, or photoperiod. They respond by feeding voraciously on the masses of shad, spot tail minnows, glass minnows, and small bluegill that hover near the surface.

My recent clients are enjoying the excitement of topwater action into the late morning hours. Surface schooling largemouth and Guadalupe bass give you a visual target to cast to.

A fast retrieve is working best to ignite strikes from these gullible bass. Surface lures, swimbaits, grubs, and spinner baits have all produced good action as long as an erratic fast-paced presentation is employed.

This action will improve each week with October producing the finest fall action. We don't normally have to fish deep until early December.

Daily weather conditions determine just how fast the fishing can be. Overcast, breezy conditions are ideal, but bright calm days can also produce surprising results in the fall.

For updates or guided excursions call 512-261-3644 or email achristenson1@austin.rr.com.

August 12, 2014
by Allen Christenson

Most bass anglers will agree that there is nothing more exciting than watching a gullible largemouth explode on a topwater lure. The sight and sound of such a sneak attack will jolt all of your senses.

The vast array of available surface lures are much more versatile than many anglers realize. Assuming that early mornings and late evenings in the warm water months are the only chances for surface action is a mistake.

As a teenager, my first topwater bass came on Lake Travis using a bright yellow Hula Popper. A fat 4-pound largemouth blew up on this unnatural looking lure smack dab in the middle of the day during September.

Soon after, I caught my first bass on a black Jitterbug around midnight under a full moon casting from a dock in Cat Hollow (now called Briarcliff.)

I really started learning more about topwater fishing after I began tournament fishing in 1971. Many tournaments were won on topwater in surprising fashion.

A good friend of mine won a cold January Lake Travis tournament by using a Pico Pop on bluff points. everyone else was using standard worm or jig fishing tactics in deep water and catching few bass. By going against conventional thinking, my friend boated over 20 nice bass on top.

A super hot July tournament on Lake Travis made fishing tough on everyone, except the team that stuck with topwaters all day long. They used propeller slash-type surface lures off points using a rip and pause cadence.

The reliable Pico Pop won me two consecutive tournaments on Canyon Lake in 1975. I concentrated on windy banks in October all day long and beat second place both times by over ten pounds.

My largest 7-pound largemouth this year came on top in mid April. Having confidence in topwaters can be rewarding!

For updates or a guided excursion call 512-261-3644.

August 2, 2014
by Allen Christenson

The shallow water bass action has perked up in the past week. Surfacing black bass have been chasing shad and small bluegill just after sunrise.

A properly presented topwater lure will ignite some vicious strikes. Best producing lures have been clear and chrome Pop-R's, Chug Bugs, and Zell Pops.

This action is found around boat docks and points. Shallow running chartreuse shad crankbaits have also produced a few nice largemouth.

This early morning spree only lasts about an hour. Then I take my clients offshore to experience the steady deep water action for catfish. For over two hours the catfish, drum, and occasional bass keep my clients busy setting the hook.

We are boating up to 40 fish per morning using nightcrawler worms and fish strips scented baits. Best depth has been 35 feet.

It is essential to locate these deep fish with a quality sonar unit. My high resolution color sonar clearly depicts individual fish and massive schools, either suspended well off the bottom or hugging the bottom.

Many people confuse catfish behavior with that of carp, who just bottom feed. Catfish often roam up in the water column and feed on baitfish just like a bass. We catch many catfish every year on crankbaits, grubs, and even surface lures.

An a recent morning my sonar revealed that a large band of catfish were suspended 15 feet deep over 35 feet of water. By measuring out 15 feet we were able to catch over 30 cats in short order. The next day the cats were holding within three feet of the bottom.

It is important to trust your sonar and adapt to changing conditions.

For updates or a guided excursion call 512-261-3644